Weight indicating device



Aug. 31, 1937. 2,091,502

J. A. ENDICOTT WEIGHT INDICATING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 2, 1955 gywc/wtov Jdme/Afnd/coff Aug. 31, 1937. J. A. ENDICOTT 2,091,502

WEIGHT INDICATING DEVICE Filed March 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 31, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE James A. Endicott, McPherson, Kans.

7 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in weight indicating devices.

In the drilling of wells, particularly for oil and gas, the drilling mud is pumped from a slush pit into the drill stem extending into the well. The lower end of the drill stemcarries a drill bit and the mud being'pumped into the stem washes the cuttings from the bottom of the hole. The drilling mud and cuttings escape upwardly between the drill stem and formation being cut and are conveyed back to the slush pit. The mud being used must be heavy enough to prevent loss of returns. and also to prevent the mud entering the formation. Also the weight of the mud varies depending on the particular formation being drilled.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved device, whereby the weight-of the drilling mud, or similar fluid, being pumped may be positively ascertained.

An important object of the invention is to provide improved indicating means connected with a suction pump which is handling drilling fluid whereby the variation in the suction of the ump caused by the variation in the weight of the drilling fluid will be indicated, thereby showing the actual weight of the fluid being pumped.

A further object of the invention is to provide a piston actuated by the suction of a pump, said piston being connected with and operating any indicator. whereby the variation in the suction of said pump is positively indicated.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein: I a

Figure l is a side elevation of a device, constructed in accordance with the invention, and connected with a suction pump,

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the device, p

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical, sectional view of the device,

Figure 4 is a plan view,

Figure 5 is an isometric view of the pitman and its connection, and

Figure 6 is an isometric view of the weight.

In the drawings, the numeral Ill designates a vertical cylinder which has a piston ll slidable therein. The bottom I2 of the cylinder is provided with an opening H which is internally Application March 2, 1935, Serial No. 9,oo9-- screw-threaded to receive a valve H. A collar i5 surrounds the opening It and is externally screw-threaded to receive the upper end of a short pipe It. The lower end of the pipe is connected with the suction line ll of a suction pump it. The pump may be of any desired construction.

The piston H is provided with a vertically extending piston rod it which extends upwardly through 'a stufling box 20 in the top of the cylinder Ill. The upper end of the rod is threaded into a collar 2| which has a clevis 22 made int sral with its upper end. A laterally extending pitman 23 has one end'pivoted'in the clevis 22 on a pin 24. The other end of the pitman is pivoted between ears on a pin 26. The ears 25 are formed on the upper end of a vertical standard 21 which has its lower end telescoping in a vertical pipe 28, whereby said standard may be lowered and raised with relation to the pipe 28-; A set screw 28 holds the standard in various adjusted positions. The pipe 28 has its lower end welded or otherwise secured to a horizontal platform or support 30 which extends outwardly from one side of the cylinder Ill, being secured to said cylinder in any suitable manner.

From the above, it is obvious that upon the suction stroke of the pump, the valve H in the bottom of the cylinder will be drawn downwardly to an open position. This permits the suction of the pump to act upon the piston II to pull the same downwardly (dotted lines Figure 3) within the cylinder. Downward. movementoi the piston will pull the piston rod is downwardly and swing the pitman, which will pivot on the pin 26. The clevis 22 may be provided with slots 24' to compensate for the swinging of said pitman. It is obvious that if a heavier drilling mud, or fluid, is being pumped through by the pump I l, a greater suction is present in the suction line H, which will create more pull on the piston II and cause it to move downwardly a further distance in the cylinder. It the fluid being pumped is comparatively light, less suction is present in the line I! and the piston is moved a lesser distance. Thus, it will be seen that the weight 01 the fluid controls the suction of the pump and this suction moves the piston in proportion thereto, the movement of the piston controlling the swinging of the pitman- 23. It is noted that the suction static head is maintained substantially constant, whereby the pressure of the pump is unaifected by the static head. Also, the speed of the pump is also maintained sub- 1 above a' diaphragm 34.

stantially constant, whereby the speed of the pump does not change with a change in the con sistency of the material.

For indicating the weight of the fluid being 5 pumped, the pitman 23, has a weight 3| slidably mounted thereon. The weight is held in a fixed position on said pitman' by a set screw 32 and is provided with a head 33 at its lower end. When the piston II is in a raised position (Figure 3) and the pitman is swung to a horizontal position, the head 33 of said weight is directly The diaphragm is mounted'in the usual case 35 which is connected with a pressure chamber 36. The chaml5 ber comprises a U-shaped pipe 31 and the horizontal portion of the pipe 31 is mounted within a casing 38 supported by the support or platform 30. One vertical leg of the U-shaped pipe carries the diaphragm case 35 while the other leg of the pipe 31 has a gauge 39 or other suitable indicator mounted thereon. This gauge may be of any suitable type which is actuated by fluid pressure. The pressure chamber may have fluid or liquid entered therein and it is obvious that by depressing the diaphragm, the gauge will be actuated. I

Thus, when the suction of the pump moves the piston II a certain distance within the cylinder l0,the pitman is swung to apply a certain pressure on the diaphragm 34 through the weight 3|, whereby such pressure is indicated by the gauge 39. Variationin the suction line H, varies the movement of the piston and a greater or less pressure is exerted onthe diaphragm to cause 35 various indications by the gauge. Since the suction in the line I! is positively controlled by the weight of. the fluid being pumped, it is obvious that the exact weight of the fluid is indicated by the gauge 39. The vertical adjustmerit of the standard 21 within its supporting pipe 28, provides for varying the swing of the pitman. inder' I0 is so arranged that upon the suction stroke of the pump, it is pulled open, but upon the exhaust stroke of the pump, the valve is seated so as to prevent fluid entering the cylinder beneath the plunger.

It is pointed out that the gauge will positively indicate the weight of the fluid being pumped upon each stroke. Thus, the operator will at ail times be aware of this weight and therefore, if the fluid becomes too thin or too thick, he can quickly remedy the trouble. By maintaining the fluid at its proper weight, depending upon the conditions under which drilling is being done, the danger of the well blowing in" is eliminated. This is especially true in gas wells. Further, since the weight of the fluid must vary according to the formation being drilled, it is so obvious that the drilling operation can be greatly speeded up for no time is necessary for weighing the fluid before pumping. The pump is started and the gauge immediately registers the weight of. the fluid. The operator can then increase or decrease the weight of the fluid until the indicator of the gauge is proper.

It is pointed out that although the device has been described as indicating the weight of drilling fluid, it can be used in combination with any suction pump and may be utilized for indicating the weight of any fluid such as cement slurry, or the like,

The valve M at the bottom of the cyl-..

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a gauge of the type described, a cylinder connected with a suction line, a piston movable within the cylinder and actuated by the suction 5 in said line, a swinging member connected with the piston and arranged to be swung thereby. a pressure chamber, an indicator actuated by the pressure in the chamber connected with one end of said chamber, a diaphragm at the other end 10 of said chamber arranged to be engaged and actuated by the swinging member, whereby when said member is swung the diaphragm is actuated to increase the pressure within the chamber to operate the indicator, whereby variations in the 1 ,15 suction in said line are indicated, thereby indicating the weight of the fluid being drawn g through said line.

2. In a gauge of the type described, a pressure indicator, movable means actuated by a source 20 of suction, and means connected with and actuated by said movable means'for applying pressure to said indicator, whereby said pressure indicator is actuated by the suction.

3. In a gauge of the described, a pressure. 25 indicator, means for transforming a sourceof suction into a pressure, and means for applying the pressure to said indicator; whereby said indicator is actuated by said suction.

4. In a gauge of. the type described, a pressure 30 indicator, movable means connected with and actuated by a source ofsuction, whereby variations insaid suction vary the movement of said means, a. swinging member connected with said means, and a pressure chamber connected with 3i the pressure indicator and with said swinging member, whereby movement of said member will 4 vary the pressure to said indicator.

5. In a gauge of the type described, a cylinder connected with a suction line, a piston movable 40 within the cylinder and actuated by the suction in said line, a pressure indicator, a pressure chamber having one end connected with the indicator for actuating the same, and means connected with and actuated by the piston for vary- 45 ing the pressure in the chamber, whereby the in; dicator is actuated in proportion to the movement of the piston.

6. In a gauge of the type described, a cylinder connected with a suct"- .n line, a piston movable 50 within the cylinder and actuated by the suction in said line, a pressure indicator, 2. pressure chamber having one end connected with the indicator for actuating the same, and a swinging member connected with and actuated by the 55 piston for varying the pressure in the chamber, whereby the indicator is actuated in proportion to the movement of the piston.

7. In a gauge of the type described, a cylinder connected with a suction line, a piston movable 60 within the cylinder and actuated by the suction in said line, a pressure indicator, a pressure chamber having one end connected with the indicator for actuating the same, means connected with and actuated by the piston for varying the 5 pressure in the chamber, whereby the indicator is actuated in proportion to the movement of the piston, and a check valve mounted between the suction line and the piston.

' 70 .JAMES A. ENDICOTT. 

